A recent study in Australia suggests that Merino sheep grazing between solar panels not only contribute to the maintenance of the facilities but also produce higher quality wool.
How do the sheep get between the solar panels? Sheep have been used for landscape management for years. They are essentially natural lawn mowers that can be employed in places where humans and their machinery are less suitable (via IBC Solar).
In Germany, sheep are also used to trim the grass area under and around photovoltaic systems. A study conducted in Australia now suggests that this method is beneficial not only for the solar panels.
In Sheepy: A Short Adventure, you will become a sheep and experience an adventure in the style of Ori and the Blind Forest:
Benefits for Animals and the Environment
How was the study conducted? The investigation was carried out at the Wellington Solar Farm in New South Wales (Australia) by Lightsourcebp in collaboration with EMM Consulting and Elders Rural Services (via Energy).
Over a period of three years, 1,700 Merino sheep were divided into two groups: one group grazed on traditional pastures, while the other grazed between the solar panels of the facility. Factors such as wool growth, fiber strength, and the weight of the sheep were examined. The results suggest that grazing under solar panels does not negatively affect wool quality; some parameters even showed improvements.
What results were surprising? The results suggest that grazing under solar panels does not negatively affect wool quality; some parameters even showed improvements.
In addition to the potential increase in wool quality, integrating sheep farming in solar parks, or vice versa, likely offers further advantages. The sheep help keep the grass short, which reduces maintenance efforts for the facilities. Furthermore, the land remains agriculturally usable while clean energy is produced at the same time.
Brendan Clarke from Lightsourcebp emphasizes in the statement on the official website the importance of such synergies for a sustainable future: The promising results of this study show that we are on the right track.
How significant is the study? The results of the study appear to be conclusive – agrivoltaics, i.e., the dual use of land for agriculture and solar energy, is widely recognized. Even the Bavarian State Research Center for Agriculture published official guidelines on this in 2023 (via lfl).
Nevertheless, it should be noted that the investigation was conducted by Lightsourcebp, a renewable energy company. A certain self-interest cannot be ruled out. Especially since the parent company bp usually generates the largest revenues from non-renewable mineral oil.
Less water loss, protection from heat, and a better environment for bees – the benefits of dual land use are clear. You can read more about how sheep maintain solar systems on the colleagues’ page at Gamestar-Tech: 3,000 sheep maintain solar collectors in Texas
